 | Silenus |  |
“Awake, Silenus! In the future shine
Triumph and glory sprung of mighty deeds,
By the stern Gods approved. Strewn thro' the world
Are nations savage as their scouring wolves,
Famine-bedriven over icy plains,
Which we with high persuasive proof will front
And show them law yields fairer life than when
Revengeful men shed blood, or rob for greed;
And with temptation of the luscious grape
We will enchant them into peaceful toil.
Triumph and glory sprung of mighty deeds,
By the stern Gods approved. Strewn thro' the world
Are nations savage as their scouring wolves,
Famine-bedriven over icy plains,
Which we with high persuasive proof will front
And show them law yields fairer life than when
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And with temptation of the luscious grape
We will enchant them into peaceful toil.
“At ne deep draught now drain this cup divine
Down to its moon of gold. Leave not a drop,
For every drop is precious; scarce unfit
To pass Athena's lips, when shouting She
Holds up Her shining nectar bowl and tells
Tidings of victory to feasting Gods!
Down to its moon of gold. Leave not a drop,
For every drop is precious; scarce unfit
To pass Athena's lips, when shouting She
Holds up Her shining nectar bowl and tells
Tidings of victory to feasting Gods!
“Each bloomed and purple grape was singly plucked,
Ere bursting ripe, by dainty-fingered nymphs;
And these when heaped, by their own pressure shed
The wine you drink, fragrance and liquid sun.
Ere bursting ripe, by dainty-fingered nymphs;
And these when heaped, by their own pressure shed
The wine you drink, fragrance and liquid sun.
“The cup you handle was Hephaestion's gift.
After his downfall, from Olympus hurled
By wrathful Zeus, I nourished him and gave
Reviving, warm, deep draughts of crimson wine.
Day after day I watched the cunning God
Fashion these nymphs who nursed me when a babe.
You see me heave to clutch the teasing bunch
One dangles playfully beyond my reach;
While Hermes swings his nimble feet and smiles,
Amused to eye me as I jerk and crow.
His gift, embossed with playtime of my past,
Is thine, and thine this well-filled skin.
After his downfall, from Olympus hurled
By wrathful Zeus, I nourished him and gave
Reviving, warm, deep draughts of crimson wine.
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Fashion these nymphs who nursed me when a babe.
You see me heave to clutch the teasing bunch
One dangles playfully beyond my reach;
While Hermes swings his nimble feet and smiles,
Amused to eye me as I jerk and crow.
His gift, embossed with playtime of my past,
Is thine, and thine this well-filled skin.
“When clouds
Darken and chill thy life, and memory
Of what is gone too bald and clearly stares
For steady gazing to endure, then drink!
When thou wouldst rise to action, but the heart
And limbs in languor hold thee back, then drink!
Pour thy libation when the dazzling rays
Of Hyperion to the zenith pierce;
And when his light in mighty splendour sinks
At eventide again libation pour!
Worship the glorious God throughout the day,
So he may strengthen thee, and penetrate
Thy loitering blood, and drive dark dreams away.
Darken and chill thy life, and memory
Of what is gone too bald and clearly stares
For steady gazing to endure, then drink!
When thou wouldst rise to action, but the heart
And limbs in languor hold thee back, then drink!
Pour thy libation when the dazzling rays
Of Hyperion to the zenith pierce;
And when his light in mighty splendour sinks
At eventide again libation pour!
Worship the glorious God throughout the day,
So he may strengthen thee, and penetrate
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“I go; ere long returning I shall claim
Thy presence with me to the blustering North,
Where we, the vine our welcome, marching on,
Will with its tendrils link our prophecies
To rich abundant store in coming time;
And, thro' his appetite, tame savage man
To toil and tillage of the liberal earth.”
Thy presence with me to the blustering North,
Where we, the vine our welcome, marching on,
Will with its tendrils link our prophecies
To rich abundant store in coming time;
And, thro' his appetite, tame savage man
To toil and tillage of the liberal earth.”
| Silenus | |